Wanted Man Shares Own Mugshot on Facebook, Then Gets Arrested

Anthony Lescowitch was a wanted criminal until he shared his wanted photo that was originally posted on the Freeland Police Department's Facebook page. The "share" gave police a direct link to Lescowitch's Facebook page and he was later arrested, the Associated Press reports.

While Facebook posts can get you in trouble at work, how can they get you arrested?

Lescowitch Got 'Catfished'

Lescowitch may still be a wanted fugitive if he didn't "share" the Freeland Police Department's Facebook post about him. The alleged criminal was wanted for assault charges and had evaded police for months.

While most people want their mugshots off the Internet, Lescowitch couldn't resist sharing his mugshot on his own Facebook wall after seeing it posted on the police's Facebook page. He also bragged about how police couldn't find him, according to The Associated Press. Lescowitch failed to remember that when you share something from another person's Facebook page, the user who first hosted the content can find out who shared it.

So how did police find Lescowitch's whereabouts? Easy. A Freeland officer posed as an attractive woman on Facebook and set up a meeting with Lescowitch. Once he arrived at the "catfish" date location, officers immediately arrested the wanted man.

Be Careful What You Share

The lesson learned for Lescowitch and Facebook users is that police are savvy to what goes on the Internet. This is far from the first time someone was arrested after they posted on the social networking site.

For example, a Massachusetts teenager was arrested for posting original rap lyrics threatening to kill people following the Boston Marathon bombing. Another teen was arrested for posting a Facebook message about attacking her school. So please don't post anything incriminating or illegal using your Facebook account because even if cops don't see it right away, your connected friends and co-workers can and will report your illegal activities.

For Lescowitch, he was captured 45 minutes after he shared his own mugshot. Police also announced his capture on Facebook -- so far, it's received more than 900 likes.